Category: Data Backup

World Backup Day is March 31st, landing on a Friday this year and giving people something to do over the weekend. Described as “a day for people to learn about the increasing role of data in our lives and the importance of regular backups,” World Backup Day isn’t a novelty holiday as it may seem – unlike National Trivia Day and National Paperclip Day (yes, these both exist and yes, National Puppy Day is a real holiday).

It is meant for those who didn’t learn that time when their laptop crashed and the big project was lost, or desktop computer froze and all work from the previous session disappeared, or smartphone glitched and nothing was recoverable (Samsung Galaxy S3 “sudden death” and Apple iOS 10 brick, anyone?).

It is also meant for those fortunate few that have never experienced losing data because, trust us, it’s borderline earth-shattering.

What is backup?

Storing data in a secondary location for recovery of earlier versions and/or after loss. The objective can be viewed as two methods: active and passive. Active backup is the frequent or continuous copying of data, as up to date as the primary location with earlier versions also available. Passive backup is the occasional copying of data, meaning the primary location will have the most current version and the secondary will have an older one.

Active backup is a mirror of internal storage whereas passive backup may not be the finished product but it’s better than nothing.

How to backup data

There are different options with different benefits so that you can decide which works best for your use, regardless of which backup method you choose.

Cloud. Saving to an off-site data center is popular for mobility and storage but works just as well for backup. Cloud services are known for being reliable with near-perfect uptime and accessibility, so retrieval is hardly a concern.
Best for: commuter/travelers; mobile ___

External hard drive. External hard drives connect and transfer copies of data, acting as a computer’s memory that can be unplugged. The debate of whether to leave the drive connected to the computer or not is one without a correct answer but the arguments for and against are such:

Keeping it plugged in ensures that the most recent versions are saved and data loss is very rare in the event of a power outage/surge. However, it is then susceptible to physical theft and digital compromises including malware and denial of service.

Disconnecting ensures that the backup files are stored securely and the separation eliminates possible threats that computers may get. However, backing up can’t be automatically done and it takes a little extra time to consciously remember; most recent versions of files might not be the saved version then. NOTE: if you backup a folder that contains preexisting malware or encryption you aren’t aware of, it will copy onto the drive.

Still not convinced that backup is worth it?

“Don’t be an April Fool.” “What would you do if you lost everything?” “Friends don’t let friends go without a backup.”

With catchphrases like these, how can you not be convinced? Backing up data is insurance that’s as valuable as you make it – even if you copy your entire system (computer or smartphone) just once, it will be nice to know that you won’t have to start from scratch should something happen.

To learn more about backup services from TriTech, call us at 262-717-0037.

This page is not officially supported or endorsed by World Backup Day.

Cloud computing enables network access to a shared pool of resources in a way that’s quick and easily manageable. Cloud adoption started us toward the biggest IT shift in more than 20 years, according to the 2016 State of Cloud IT report.

Yet, uncertainty about cloud is still present in many minds and perhaps the reason for avoidance within some businesses. But if this transition is inevitable, then businesses face two options: resist and fall behind, or join them if you can’t beat them. Managed Cloud Services at TriTech examine how businesses can overcome their hesitation.

What is the cloud?

Cloud storage is used for saving, recovery, and backup.

Since your information is kept at the data center of your provider, it’s unaffected by damages to and malfunctions from your equipment.

Cloud services:

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): CloudSigma, OpenStack

Platform as a Service (PaaS): OpenShift, Microsoft Azure

Software as a Service (SaaS): Citrix, RightScale

Sets: IBM, Amazon, Oracle, Google

Cloud hosting: private cloud, public cloud, hybrid cloud.

Employees

The “Don’t” Reason – Fixed

All surveyed organizations said their top cloud worry was employees unintentionally exposing data. Moreover, employees are considered the weakest link in security infrastructure. Cloud or not, businesses are weary of network users, so how can this uneasiness be resolved?

Education. Talk to your employees about the appropriate security settings that you expect and the possible consequences of a data breach.

Action. Create rules or a policy.

Restrictions. Limit access to important folders and permit users only to areas they’ll be working with.

The “Do” Benefits

Businesses “are choosing cloud for the value it can add, not how much it can save them.” Almost 90% of organizations use cloud for “improving responsiveness to business needs.” Other reasons include:

Improving operations

Saving money

Responding to competition

Improving security

Security

The “Don’t” Reasons

89% of company IT professionals are concerned about cloud security with over half finding that “employee use of cloud-based applications makes their company less secure as they may unknowingly expose data during the process.”

But there’s more than just employees that are seen as a threat.

Hackers. Whether by using credentials or through the server, infiltration is very serious and dangerous. It can go undetected for days and often could’ve been easily prevented.

Inexperience. Lack of knowledge before execution is unwise. If you don’t know how your cloud works, how can you expect for it to be safe?

Loss. As a result of stolen or misplacement by an employee or thief.

63% of organizations ranked security higher than convenience, which is understandable since technology can be viewed as “the more convenient, the more risky.”

The “Do” Benefit (and fixing the “don’t”)

Verizon’s 2016 State of the Enterprise Cloud reports that 80% of organizations find cloud either more secure than or the same as their on-premise infrastructure.

Compliance. Verify that employees are enforcing the correct privacy designations.

Monitor. Frequently check the server for vulnerabilities and to ensure protection.

Inactivity. Delete old and unneeded data. Not only does it free space but eliminates data that may be forgotten and potentially confidential.

Managed Service. Hiring an IT company for your Wisconsin business is always an option, too.

Cloud Computing Solutions for Wisconsin Businesses

TriTech provides managed IT services in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Madison, and across Wisconsin. Learn more about cloud storage or begin a technology solution for your business by calling TriTech at (262) 717-0037 or toll-free (800) 891-3388.

SOURCES
The State of SMB Cybersecurity in 2015
State of the Market: Enterprise Cloud 2016
RightScale 2016 State of the Cloud Report
2016 State of Cloud IT
SANS Institute
NIST